Hydraulic turbine



June 12, 1928.

c. o. TAPPAN 'ET AL HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 14.- 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet Ih IVE NTQRS Mm GHRNALD THEIR ATTORNEYS June' 12, 1928. 1,673,605

c. o. TAPPAN ET AL HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 14. 1921 3 s -s t 2 INVENTORS CHARLES dfirmf' o BENMINGERNALD THEIRATTORNEYS 1,673,605 c. o. TAPPAN ET AL HYDRAULiC TURBINE Filed Sept. 14. 1 a Sheets$heet 3 INVENTORS CmRLEs0.Z 21WAN""1 BENJAM/N GEYRNALD THEIR ATTORNEYS Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLESO. TAPPAN AND BENJAMIN G. FERN-ALB, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.

HYDRAULIC TURBINE.

Application filed September 14, 1921. Serial No.. 500566.

Our invention relates to hydraulic turbines and has for its object to provide an efiicient hydraulic turbine installation which is il'iexpensive to construct and to maintain.

F or purposes of illustration, the invention will be described in connection with a hydraulic turbine wheel or runner of the axial flow type similar to a marine or screw propeller. A typical turbine installation of this type comprises a flame connecting with the head water at the top of the waterfall, a passageway connecting with the flame and in which the turbine wheel or runner is mounted, and a draft tube or other discharge conduit to convey the water from the runner passageway to the tailrace at the foot oi the waterfall. The admission of water to the flume from the top of the waterfall is controlled by large gates ot any desired kind. To regulate the speed of the turbine within desired limits, the flow of water to the runner is controlled. by easily 1nanipulated gates or valves provided adjacent the runner or the runner passageway. The socalled wicket-gate control, comprising a series of small vanes or. blades connected by links to a common shifting or actuating ring rotated by levers controlled by hand or by a speed governor, is a: common type of speed regulating device. Although the wicketgatc control is cl'licient and easy to operate, it is complicated and expensive to manu'l'ao in re, install. and maintain. It is one of the objects of the present invention, therefore, to provide a simple and eliicient speed regubiting gate or valve inezqiensive to manufacture, install, and maintain.

Other and further objects of invention will be apparent from the following description and 'l om the accompai'iying drawings of illustrative embodiments thereof, in which Figure 1 is longi ti'idinal, vertical section of an embodiment of the invention applied toan' open fluine, downward flow turbine i nstallation Figure 2 a horizontal section taken on line Q-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 a longitudinal, vertical section of an embodiment of the invention applied to a closed, spiral flumc, downward flow turbine installation;

Figure et anenlarged detail of a portion of the speed regulating valve illustrating a method of lubrication; and

l igure a longitudinal, vertical section 01' an embodiment ol' the invention applied types of flow and of installations will be ob vious from its application to the illustrative embodiments of Figures 1 and" 5 of the drawlugs.

blinlilar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

An in'iportant. feature of the invention consists in the provision of, an axial flow runner set definitely in the axis of a. cylin, drical conduit to the, inlet endv of which the water is admitted at suflicient distance from the runner to pern'iit the latter toturn. in and be operated by a solid; body of water moving through the conduit in an axial direction without whirl or other turbulence eX- cepting, that small amount which is unavoidable when the direction of the flow of water is changed or the water is set in motion for any reason.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate the application. of one embodiment of the invention to an open fl ume, downward flow installation in which an open flume 100 conveys water from the top of the waterfall,

(not shown) to a vertical passageway 101 having its top 102'flared and shaped? to cooperate with and to :lorm a seat for the speed regulating valve 140 to be described hereinafter. The passageway may be reinforced with a casing ring 103 shaped to conform to the passageway and its top 102. A draft tube or suction pipe 105 conveys the discharge water from the bottom of runner passageway 101 to the tailrace at the foot of the waterfall;

The turbine wheel or runner 120', which is shown as of the axial flow or marine screw propeller type, is mounted in runner passageway 101 on a vertical shaft 121. In. the embodiment illustrated, shaft 121 hangs from a thrustbearing 122 carried by the generator 123 or other apparatus to which the turbine is connected. 7 124 mounted in the frame of the generator A grade bearinglit! may be provided for the top of the shaltand a guide bearing 125 mottnted in a spider ltll; secured to or forming part; of easing ring 103 may be provided. for the bottom ot the shaft.

To regulate the speed of runner 120 by controlling the liow ot "\vat'er thereto a simple and ellicienti valve inexpensive to manufacture. install. and maintain has been provided comprising;- a needle valve l-lll mounted slid-ably on or aoont shat't 1'31 and 'l'ormed to seat on top 1H2 olf runner passage vay ltll. The bottom of the needle valve preferably is l'ormed and shaped to cooperate with liaring top lllp ol' runner passageway ltll to aid in securing ellicient and shoclt'less entrance ol' the water into pas ageway llll. A pointed or conical end is shown in the drawlllffS. .In the installation illustrated. needle valve l-ltl preferably is providtal with sides H11 and with a sleeve .l-l-Z extending above the level ot the head water in open l'lume ltltl. thus excluding water from the top ol the valve. Water on top of the valve Would tend to unbalance it, and would retptire more force to raise it from its seat than it the water excluded. To prevent rotation of the needle valve. longitudinal slideways t-l-i may he provided on its sides lll. adapted to receive slides Lll provided on extensions ltltl from the lhune structure.

Needle alve Ht) may he raised and lowered by a speed governor or by hand. A conventional speed governor lt0 is illustrated in Figure 1 of the thawing. connected by t belt llll vith any moving part 1(32 of the installation. The governor controls liquid l'lotv into a cylinder lti l on either side of a piston lt'tl connected by a piston rod 105 with a bell crank lever lt'it3 connected by a linl: 107 with a collar 10s fastened to sleeve .142 and to a spider nae) which is secured to sides l-ll of needle valve Ht) or to extensions l'rom said sides. lland operation of the needle valve may be provided in any desired manner as by a screw \vheel lTt) connected by a hell crank lever lTl to piston rod H35.

ln Figures 3 and 4 ol' the drawings is illustrated the application ot' an c1nhodi ment ot the invention to a closed. spiral llume. dovvntvard l'1o\v installation in which a closed, spiral llume :ltlt) conveys water to a vertical passageway Iltlt havin its top I )2 llared and shaped to cooperate with and to t'orm a eeat tor the speed regulating valve 340 to be described hereinal'ter. The passagetvay may be reinforced with a casing ring 30;} shaped to conform to the passagevvay and its top 3302. A dral't tube 21th) conveys the discharge vater from the bottom of the runner passageway.

'lhe turbine wheel or runner 320 mounted in runner passageway 301 on or about; vertical shaft :tzt hung t'rom a thrust hcarint: 32; carried by the generator 2123 or other apparatus to which the turbine is connected. A. guide bearing Jill mounted in the frame of the generator may be provided for the top of the shaft and a guide bearing I325 mounted in a spider :llt-lsecured to or 'l'orming part, of easing ring 2th.) may be provided tor the bottom of the shaft.

To regulate the speed ol runner ilzlll by controlling the tlovv ol' \vater thereto. a needle valve Ill) is mounted slidably on shatt 2321 and l'ormed to seat on top Ill): ol' runn r pa-sa;1'e\v:rv iltll. 'lhe bottom ol the needle valve may he l'ormed and ehaped to cooperate vrith llarine top Il ol runner passageway Iltll to aid in seeurinc entrance of water into passageway iltll with as little sheet; and disturbance as possible. in the installation illustrated the needle valve is: mounted slidably and with a close lit. in a drum or valve casing 350 having a top 3351 and attached to or i'orming part. ot a rurrounding casing ring I151! secured to the llume structure and connected by distance pie es lfti'l with lovvercasing rinc' ltlil l'ormiuit What may be termed a rllt'tftl rin; to guide the water entering passageway i'ltll. liovvcr casingring llttil. distance pieces 35 upper easing ring 2-352. and valve enclosing drum ilotl may be integral or sectional as may be most convenient for the particular installation tor which they are intended. lhe di tance pieces 23.32 are not so constructed as to cause a whirling motion. llotation of the needle valve may be prevented in any desired manner as by a guide i'lfi-lon cover 215i engaging an extension 13-11 of needle valve 340. .ln Figure -t is shovvn means for lubricating the bearing 235:3 around shalt Lil in the needle valve. and the sides of the needle valve. comprising a pipe 2356 connected by a l'lexible tube 235? to a, lubrication source and having branches 23.35 and 35$) leading respectively to the ides ot' the needle valve and to hearing 1355 at the bottom ol the valve around shalt 321.

Needle valve it'll) may be raised and lowercd by a speed governor or by hand. A conventional speed governor IltlU is illustratcd. connected in any desired manner as by a bell lill with an dcJ--ired moving part Jlt'ri ol the installation. The 'ovcrnor controls litpiid llotv into a cylinder .ilttll on either side ot a. piston iitil connected by a piston rod EH35) with a hell cranlt lever :illll connected bv a link iltlT with a lever Ilt'm' connected by it link lit'ttl with a collar IlTtl l'astened to a sleeve 371 secured to bearing i3 S of needle valve 340. A stullin e' box 21' may be provided between sleeve I17] and top 25.31 of drum ilfit) and a stalling box 373 between collar i570 and shalt I'L'l. lland operation of the needle valve may be provided by a screw \vheel iJ-l connected to an extension 3T5 of hell crank lever 2366.

ltltl lltl ta n

In Figure. 5 of the drawings is illustrated the. application of an embodiment of the invention to an open flume, horizontal flow installation in which an open flume 500 has mounted therein a horizontal runner pas sageway 5,01 curving to discharge conduit 502 leading from an opening 503 in the floor ot' the flame. About tlume opening 503 is t a tiume ring 50% to which is bolted the runner casing 505 provided with an opening flared and shaped to cooperate with and to form a seat for the speed regulating valve 5&0 to be described hereinafter.

The turbine wheel or runner 520 is mounted in runner passageway 501 on or about horizontal shaft 521 mounted in bearings 522 a d 523.

To regulate the speed of runner 520 by coi'itrolling the flow of water; thereto, a needle valve 5&0 is mounted slidably on shaft 521 and formed to seat on the flared opening of runner passageway 501. The end of the needle valve may be formed andshaped to cooperate with the flared opening of runner passageway 501 to aid in securing a shockle s entrance oil. the water thereto. In the installation illustrated, the needle valve mounted slidably and with a close fit in a drum 550 having atop 551. The drum or valve casing is secured to a surrounding casing ring 552 secured to the flame structure and is connected by distance pieces 553 with the flared entrance of runner passageway 501 to form what may be termed a Fpced ring through which the water is delivered from flume 500 to passageway 501 and to runner therein. The pieces 553 are not constructed so as to cause a whirling motion of the water. Rotation of the needle valve may be prevented in any desired manner as by a guide on cover 551 engaging an ex .llSlOll 541 of needle valve 550. A hearing may be provided at the end of the needle valve and around shaft 521. For draining the valve chamber (it any leakage, a drain valve 556 may be provided in cover Needle valve 540 may be moved toward and away from the entrance to runner passageway 501 by a speed governor or by hand. A conventional speed governor 560 is illustrated. connected by a belt 561 with any moving part 502 of the installation. The governor controls liquid flow into cylinder 563 on either side of a piston 564 connected by a piston rod 565 with one arm of a bell crank lever 566 connected by a link 567 with a collar 568 fastened to a sleeve 569 secured to hearing 555 of needle valve A stalling be 572 may be provided between sleeve 560 and top 551 of drum 550 and a stalling box 573 betweencollar 568 and shaft 521. Hand operation of the needle valve may be provided by a screw wheel 57 1 connected by a link 575 to the arm of hell crank lever to which piston. rod 565 is not connected. The needle valve also may be operated h aulically through valve. 556 or similar means wherever the closed drum or valve 'asing used, controlled by the usual. form of hydraulic governor by automatic speed regulation or by hand.

Many HlOtllllfltl'OllS of our invention will be apparent to those. skilled in the art without departing therefrom or from the scope of the claims, our invention not being limited to the embodiments or the appli 'ations thereof chosen for purposes of illiiistration, but comprising a hydraulic turbine installation and speed regulation control therefor inexpensive to construct and maintain.

lVhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic turbine, a. flume having a cylindrical passageway normally open at both ends, a power shaft extending into said passageway and having an axial flow runner mounted thereon within said passage'vvay, and means to close one end of said passageway comprising a needle Valve slidably mounted on said shaft, the forma tion of the valve and passageway being such as to cause no whirl in the descending water.

2. The con'ibination of claim 1 in which the needle valve is provided with means to prevent rotation thereof.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the needle valve is provided with a pointed or conical end toward the entrance of the passageway.

at. In a hydraulic turbine, a flume having a cylindrical passageway normally open at both ends, a power shaft extending into said passageway and having an axial flow runner mounted thereon within said passageway. a fixed drum mounted in the flume and having one end thereof open, and a needle valve slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to slide within said drum, the formation of the passageway and valve being such as to cause no whirl in the descending water.

In a hydraulic turbine, a flume having a cylindrical passageway normally open at both ends, a power shaft extending into said passageway and having an axial flow runner mounted thereon within said passageway, means to close one end of said passageway comprising a needle valve mounted adjacent said end, and means to guide said needle valve.

6. In a water wheel, a runner having radial blades, a cylinder enclosing said runner, the water inlet end of said cylinder being flared outwardly. and a movable valve at the inlet end of said cylinder cooperating with the flaring end of said cylinder to pro vide a water passageway so formed as to direct the water in an axial direction with relation to said runner.

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